Labour is losing argument over benefit reform, says Ed Miliband aide

Ed Miliband’s Commons aide has dramatically admitted that Labour is losing the argument on benefits reform, the Evening Standard can reveal.

Senior MP Karen Buck warned a trade union-organised conference that Left-wingers “have to accept” the truth that Labour has failed to convince the public so far.

Her comments follow months of bitter friction over whether Mr Miliband is right to oppose Tory-led benefits cutbacks, at the risk of Labour being perceived as a party for claimants.

Only weeks ago, the Standard re- vealed that Mr Miliband’s private pollster James Morris had given a pres- entation showing that “politically salient target groups” were overwhelmingly likely to support rather than oppose controversial Government benefit changes.

Ms Buck, the MP for Westminster North, is the Labour leader’s parliamentary private secretary and acts as his eyes and ears in the Commons.

In her speech to the Centre for Labour and Class Studies, a trade union think-tank, she said: “And lastly is the issue of social security and the welfare agenda — not one where we have won the public debate as of now and we have to accept that is true.”

Mr Miliband last month demoted Liam Byrne, who as welfare spokes- man argued that Labour should be focusing on reform rather than just opposing cuts.

One party source said the polling evidence on welfare had “vindicated” Mr Byrne’s position.

Asked about her comments, Ms Buck said today: “We have a good story to tell in terms of our last government’s record. It’s an issue of perception rather than reality.”

But Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke said: “It’s no surprise that senior figures in Ed Miliband’s office are questioning Labour’s record on welfare.

“When Labour were in power they allowed a something-for-nothing culture to develop and Mr Miliband’s party have opposed every single step we have taken to fix the welfare system.

“In total they have opposed £83 billion of welfare savings. It’s really no wonder that they are now known as the Welfare Party.”

Polling expert Mr Morris told a trade union meeting that voters on average backed David Cameron’s reforms by about two to one — but that among Labour-Conservative swing voters the divide was a huge 64 per cent to nine per cent.